Vehicle signal



G. F. GILSCN VEHICLE SIGNAL Filed Aug. 15,

GU) E GILSON INVENTOR;

ATTORNEY lt'eb. lfl, i925,

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

Appiication filed August 15, we

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, GUY F. Girsort, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los .i-ingelcs, State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Vehicle Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a signaling device particularly adapted for use upon motor vehicles to signal other vehicles of an intended turning or stopping of the machine.

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple and compact s gnal structure which may be readily mounted in. position, and which may be as conveniently taken apart.

More specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide a casing forming a central compartment and projecting signal co1npartments, with electric lamps for the signal compartments in the central chamber, and a detachable supporting backing for the casing carrying partitions arranged to extend into the central compartment and sep arate the signal chambers, said casing and backing having electrical contacts arranged for abutting engagement when. the parts are assembled, so as to provide electrical connections for the signal lamps.

i The nvention will be readily understood from the following description of the ac companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the signaling device, partly broken away.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections on the lines 22 and 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the supporting backing for the device.

5 is a detail section of the insulator sheet and one of the contacts carried thereby.

The casing for the signal comprises a central chamber 1 having an open back, and radially projecting signal compartments 2, which are preferably elongated rectangular structures open at their inner ends to chamber 1.

In the present instance, three of the signal compartments are shown, one of said compartments preferably extending horizontally from the central chamber, with the other two compartments projecting vertically upwardly and downwardly from said central chamber. In this construction, the upwardly extending compartment is employed for signaling a turn to the right, the horizontally projecting compartment is used Serial No. 581,924.

to denote a turn to the left, and the downwardly extending compartment carries a stop signal.

ihe ndicating means for the various signals may consist of the words Right, Left, and Stop stenciled in the walls of compartments 2. in practice, the words are cut in the front walls of the signal compartments as shown at 3, and the initial letters of the words are cutin the rear walls of the compartments as shown at 4.

Transparent plates 5, preferably of red glass, are mounted in guides 6 within the respective signal. compartments, so as to e2:- tend over the openings 3 and 4t, and parti tions 7 are arranged w'thin the compart ments between openings 3 and 4-, so as to prevent blurring of the signals by light shining through alined openings 34.

The illuminating means for the signal compartments are mounted within the central chamber 1. As an instance of this arrange-merit an insulator block 10 is posit oned at the front wall of chamber 1, and

spring contact strips 11, one for each of the compartments 2, are mounted on said block. Lamp sockets 12 are arranged in front of each of the strips 11, and in alinement with the signal compartments, and usual electric lamps 13 are removably secured in said sockets so as to make electrical contact with the strips 11.

Strips 11 are in turn electrically connected to yieldable contact elements 14, as by the wires 15; sa d contact elements being .yieldably urged outwardly by springs 16 received in insulator casings 17. Cups 20 carried by the wall of chamber 1, support the yielda-ble contact members adjacent the re spective lamps, and with the ends of said members extending outwardly through the open back of chamber 1.

A closure plate is provided for the open back of the central compartment of the lamp casing. This closure plate or backing is shown at 21, and has a conduit 22 extending from the outer face thereof and opening through said plate. The conduit forms attaching means for supporting the signaling device, and is also adapted to receive electrical wires for the lamps 13.

Partitions are mounted on the inner face of plate 21, and are arranged to project into chamber 1 when the lamp casing and the backing plate are assembled. As an instance of this arrangement, the partitions 23 are provided atone edge with angularly disposed lips 24 which are adapted to rest upon plate 21, and. thereby support the partitions in position projecting from said plate.

A sheet. 25 of insulating material, is fixer against the inner face of plate 21, so as to overlie the lips 2-: and thereby hold the partitions in place, it being unde'stood that said sheet is suitably slotted to permit the partitions to project through the same.

lVit-h the construction set forth, three of the partitionsare employed, they being angularly disposed relative to one anoth r, so as to tori-n spaces between adjacent partitions which will receive the respective lamps l3 and their electrical connections, when the partitions are placed in position within chamber 1.

When the open back of chamber 1 is closed by plate 21, so as to bring the partitions intooperative position as just set forth, itwil be seen that the respective signaling conniartments and the lamps for the same will be separated by said partitions, and the latter will form closure means for the inner ends of the respective signal compartments, so that when one of the amps 13 illuminated, the light therefrom will only shine into the alined con'ipartment 2.

lectric contacts are mounted upon the insulator sheet as for example, by n'ieans of studs 26 integral with said contacts and threaded into said sheet, the said contacts being positioned for abutment against contacts 1-1 when. the backing plate 21 is secured to the lamp casing; and wires 2? are welded or otherwise suitably connected to contacts 26, and extend through the conduit 22 to a suitable source of electrical energy. A grounded wire 28 may also extend through the conduit and be connected to the plate 21, in order to cou'iplete the electrical circuit.

When the parts are assembled as thus described, the l. acking plate 2t may be connected to the lamp casin by bolts tltlmounted in the central chamber 1 and adapted to project through holes 31 in the backing plate, said bolts having nuts 32 received thereon.

The structure as thus set forth provides a convenient signaling means, since the lamp casing and the lamps may be readily re moved when necessary, Without disturbing the backing plate and its supporting means. lVhen the parts are assembled, any desired signal lamp may be illuminated, by closing a suitable switch in the electrical circuit tor the lamp, and the desired signal compartment will th s be illuminated while the other conumrt ments remain dark. As a consequence, a positive and etiicient signaling means is provided.

While I have illustrated and described but one practical embodiment of the device, it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made in the constructimi, combination, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit ot the invention.

hat is claimed is:

1. Sin aling means comprising a lamp casing having' an open back, a backing tor said casing. partitions ior said casing having angnlarly disposed edges received against said backing, and a sheet havingopenings with said partitions projecting therethrough, said sheet being supported upon said backing and overlying said angular edges or the partitions to mount the latter on said backing.

2. Signaling means comprising a lan asing having an open back, a backing for said casing, partitions tor said casing haw ing angularly disposed edges rcceirml a5, iinst said backing. an insulator sheet ha ing openings with said partitions projecting: therethroiurh, said slieet being supported upon said backing and overlying said an; t lar edges ot the partitions to mount the lat ter on said backing, electrical contacts carried by said insulator sheet, and electrical conductors connected to said contacts and extending outwardly through said backing.

8. Signaling means comprising a casing forming a central compartment having an open back, and radially extending signal compartments, a backing for said central compartment, partitions carried by said backing and adapted to close the inner ends ot the respective signal compartments. lamps in said central compartment within the respective spaces 'i'orn'ied by said par-- titious, yieldable electrical contacts in said central compartment normally urged toward said open back, electrical connections between said contacts and said lamps, and fixed electrical contacts carried by said insulator means, said. contacts being adapted to be engaged by said yieldable electrical contacts when said casing is mounted on said backing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUY F. GILSON. 

